Father's Fight to Rescue Children

Christopher Savoie, seen here with his children, Isaac and Rebecca, is a Williamson County, Tenn., father who has been fighting for custody of his children ever since his ex-wife, Noriko Savoie, abducted them to Japan in August. On Sept. 28, 2009, Christopher was arrested in Japan during a failed attempt to bring his children home.

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A local court in his hometown of Franklin, Tenn., recently gave Christopher Savoie full custody of the two children, Isaac, shown here, and Rebecca, he had with ex-wife Noriko Savoie. But that hasn't helped much. Noriko fled in August and took the children with her to Fukuoka, Japan. Christopher has been fighting to bring them back to America ever since.

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"He's a very good man - and he loves those kids," said Christopher Savoie's new wife, Amy Savoie, choking back tears as she talked to NewsChannel 5's chief investigative reporter, Phil Williams. Christopher was arrested in Japan on Sept. 28, 2009, as he ran towards an American embassy with daughter Rebecca, shown here, and son Isaac in tow. The embassy would not open the gates.

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What was Christopher Savoie doing in Japan? His new wife, Amy Savoie, said Christopher just wanted to see his children, 8-year-old Isaac and 6-year-old Rebecca. The two were abducted to Japan in August by Christopher's ex-wife, Noriko Savoie. Franklin, Tenn., police later issued a warrant for Noriko's arrest.

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"It's hard to have quiet moments because my kids' words haunt me in those quiet times," Christopher Savoie said before his trip to Japan. He is now under arrest in Japan after trying to take custody of his two children, Rebecca and Isaac, shown here.

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After his ex-wife, Noriko Savoie, shown here, took their children to Japan in Aug. 2009, Tennessee courts gave Christopher Savoie full custody. But, because Japan doesn't recognize U.S. family court orders, he has faced the prospect of never seeing them again.

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NewsChannel 5's Phil Williams spoke with Christopher Savoie, shown here, briefly by phone after hours of questioning by Japanese police, but the call was cut off when he said police came into the room to handcuff him and lock him up. The U.S. State Department said it could not comment for privacy reasons.

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"Their birthdays were coming up in October and November," Christopher Savoie's new wife, Amy Savoie, shown here, said. "He wanted to say goodbye to them, to get them birthday presents." On Sept. 28, 2009, Christopher picked them up as they walked to school, according to witness Shannon Higgins. But instead of heading to the airport, Christopher drove to the U.S. Consulate - where Japanese police were waiting.

Credit: Channel 5

Christopher Savoie, shown here with his new wife, Amy, raced to the gate of the U.S. Consulate in Japan with his children, but they would not open it, Shannon Higgins, a witness in Japan, told CBS affiliate Channel 5 in Nashville, Tenn. Like a scene from a movie, Higgins said, Christopher's son, Isaac, froze in the streets as his dad raced toward the consulate with his daughter, Rebecca, in his arms.

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Christopher Savoie, shown here with his two children, Isaac, center, and Rebecca, far right, and the children of his new wife, Amy, went to Japan to reclaim custody of his children. His ex-wife, Noriko Savoie, had taken them there after he won custody of the two children in a Tennessee court.

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Earlier this year, Noriko Savoie had threatened to take her and Christopher Savoie's children, Rebecca and Isaac, shown here, to Japan. Christopher Savoie sought a court order blocking his ex-wife from taking the children on a previously scheduled vacation to her home country. Williamson County Judge Jim Martin refused his request and ruled that she would be able to get their passports.

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Noriko Savoie took her children on vacation to her hometown of Japan earlier this year, where she apparently made arrangements for them to move. She returned to Tennessee briefly and then, with the passports still in hand, she suddenly left the country in August with the children. Here, one of the children, Isaac, smiles in a home video while his step-sister Melanie jumps up and down in the background.

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Phil Williams of CBS Channel 5 in Nashville, Tenn., spoke briefly on the phone with Christopher Savoie, who is under arrest in Japan. The call was cut off when police came into the room to handcuff him and lock him up. Savoie went to Japan to reclaim custody of his two children Rebecca, right, and Isaac. In this family photo, Rebecca and her step-sister, Melanie, are seen wearing matching dresses.

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The U.S. State Department said it could not comment on the international custody battle for privacy reasons. Amy Savoie said she's been told her husband, Christopher, has been charged criminally, but she doesn't know what charges he faces. Christopher is shown here with his daughter Rebecca, whose mother took her and her brother to Japan.

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Christopher Savoie is in Japanese custody after trying to reclaim his children who were abducted by his ex-wife, Noriko Savoie. Christopher's new wife, Amy Savoie, fears that the Japanese government may make him pay for his efforts with his freedom. Christopher's son Isaac, right, is shown in this family photo with Amy's son.

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What exactly will the Japanese government do with Christopher Savoie, who went to Japan to reclaim custody of his two children? Will they treat him like a kidnapper or a forlorn father that could not live without his kids, Isaac and Rebecca, shown here in a home video?

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Christopher Savoie is currently in Japanese custody after trying to bring his children, Rebecca, shown here in a family photo, and Isaac, to the U.S. Consulate. His ex-wife, Noriko Savoie, brought the children to Japan after a judge granted Christopher Savoie primary custody of the children. According to American law, she has abducted them. Now, Christopher Savoie may be accused of the same crime in Japan.

Credit: Family Photo

Christopher Savoie, a Tennessee father, has been arrested in Japan for trying to reclaim custody of his two children, who his ex-wife had taken to Japan. A warrant has been issued for her arrest after she violated their custody agreement. His daughter, Rebecca, shown in this home video, is 6 years old.

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Amy Savoie, Christopher Savoie's current wife, came into the marriage with three children of her own, and together with Christopher's two children, the seven of them became a family. Christopher is currently under arrest in Japan after going there to regain custody of his two children, Isaac, far left, and Rebecca.